Formula One Championship Edition

I've been a hardcore fan of Formula One racing (the sport) since I was about 9 years old and I feel F1 Champion Edition really conveys an accurate look and feel of the sport on the PS. Compared to last year's version, it's much easier to assume the role of an F1 driver with the new in-car view. Other than the deletion of tobacco ads and the odd exclusion of Jacques Villenuve, every driver, track, sponsor and team has been painstakingly re-created. This game is an Fi fan's wet dream. The sense of speed is so great in Fi that you have to really learn the track before using the in-car view. The graphics are impressive in their detail but there is some pop-up which makes it hard to see far in the distance. Ironically, this adds realism as it's difficult to see far away in a real Fi car at speed. The steering control in the GP Mode is perfect with pin-point accuracy and responsiveness but the Arcade Mode is another story altogether. In this mode realism flies out the window as the game turns into "F1 Off-Road" with powerslides, dirt sorties and bumper-car antics. If you follow the sport, avoid the Arcade Mode like the plague. I do wish Psygnosis hadn't simplified the Option Menu so much as I prefer to tweak my car to death but you can't have everything. The frame rate bogs a little when there's a lot of cars on screen, but it's no big deal. Awesome!

What makes this one such a winner is that it's the most authentic racing sim on the planet yet you can totally tone down the realism to suit your tastes. I think the cars are much too difficult to drive with all the realism settings maxed out. So I switch on steering and braking assistance--or just play the simplified Arcade Mode--and the game becomes much more fun. The incredible sound effects and sense of speed only add to the realism.

What makes this one such a winner is that it's the most authentic racing sim on the planet yet you can totally tone down the realism to suit your tastes. I think the cars are much too difficult to drive with all the realism settings maxed out. So I switch on steering and braking assistance--or just play the simplified Arcade Mode--and the game becomes much more fun. The incredible sound effects and sense of speed only add to the realism.

This is an incredibly in-depth racing simulation that offers just about everything an F-1 fan could hope for. Real tracks, real teams, loads of options and some really cool modes of play available through codes. Like most Psygnosis games, the 3-D graphics are cutting-edge and serve the game very well. I do think that the gameplay, while good, could use more refinement to make it an even more entertaining game. Otherwise, a very solid racer.